(KEENEY _straightens himself like a man coming out of a trance._ MRS. KEENEY _looks at the_ MATE _with terrified eyes._) KEENEY (_dazedly--trying to collect his thoughts_). A clear passage? To no'th'rd? MATE. Yes, sir. KEENEY (_his voice suddenly grim with determination_). Then get her ready and we'll drive her through. MATE. Aye, aye, sir. MRS. KEENEY (_appealingly_). David! KEENEY (_not heeding her_). Will the men turn to willin' or must we drag 'em out? MATE. They 'll turn to willin' enough. You put the fear o' God into 'em, sir. They're meek as lambs. KEENEY. Then drive 'em--both watches. (_With grim determination_) They's whale t' other side o' this floe and we're going to git 'em. MATE. Aye, aye, sir. (_He goes out hurriedly. A moment later there is the sound of scuffing feet from the deck outside and the_ MATE'S _voice shouting orders._) KEENEY (_speaking aloud to himself--derisively_). And I was a-goin' home like a yaller dog! MRS. KEENEY (_imploringly_). David! KEENEY (_sternly_). Woman, you ain't a-doin' right when you meddle in men's business and weaken 'em. You can't know my feelin's. I got to prove a man to be a good husband for ye to take pride in. I got to git the ile, I tell ye. MRS. KEENEY (_supplicatingly_). David! Aren't you going home? KEENEY (_ignoring this question--commandingly_). You ain't well. Go and lay down a mite. (_He starts for the door._) I got to git on deck. (_He goes out. She cries after him in anguish, "David!" A pause. She passes her hand across her eyes--then commences to laugh hysterically and goes to the organ. She sits down and starts to play wildly an old hymn._ KEENEY _reenters from the doorway to the deck and stands looking at her angrily. He comes over and grabs her roughly by the shoulder._) KEENEY. Woman, what foolish mockin' is this? (_She laughs wildly, and he starts back from her in alarm._) Annie! What is it? (_She doesn't answer him._ KEENEY'S _voice trembles._) Don't you know me, Annie? (_He puts both hands on her shoulders and turns her around so that he can look into her eyes. She stares up at him with a stupid expression, a vague smile on her lips. He stumbles away from her, and she commences softly to play the organ again._) KEENEY (_swallowing hard--in a hoarse whisper, as if he had difficulty in speaking_). You said--you was agoin' mad--God! (_A long wail is heard from the deck above: "Ah bl-o-o-o-ow!" A moment later the_ MATE'S _face appears through the skylight. He cannot see_ MRS. KEENEY.) MATE (_in great excitement_). Whales, sir--a whole school of 'em--off the starb'd quarter 'bout five mile away--big ones! KEENEY (_galvanized into action_). Are you lowerin' the boats? MATE. Yes, sir. KEENEY (_with grim decision_). I'm a-comin' with ye. MATE. Aye, aye, sir. (_Jubilantly_) You'll git the ile now right enough, sir. (_His head is withdrawn and he can be heard shouting orders._)